Building sentences from clauses — and understanding what makes them work.
Although she was tired, she finished the report, and she sent it before midnight. (compound-complex)
The Building Block: The Clause
Every sentence is built from clauses. A clause must have a subject and a verb — but not all clauses are equal.
A clause is a group of words containing a subject (who or what does something) and a verb (the action or state). The key question is: can it stand alone as a complete sentence?
✓ Independent Clause
"The rain stopped."
Complete thought — works as a sentence on its own.
✗ Dependent Clause
"Because the rain stopped."
Incomplete — leaves you waiting for the rest. Needs an independent clause.
💡 Think of an independent clause as a full meal. A dependent clause is a side dish — it adds flavour, but can't be served on its own.
Exercise 1
Click the Independent Clause(s)
Click every word that belongs to an independent clause. In compound sentences there will be more than one to find!
Sentence 1 of 5 · one independent clause to find
Click all the words that form the independent clause.
Sentence 2 of 5 · one independent clause to find
Click all the words that form the independent clause.
Sentence 3 of 5 · the whole sentence is one independent clause
Click all the words that form the independent clause.
Sentence 4 of 5 · two independent clauses to find
Click all the words that belong to an independent clause (there are two — click both).
Sentence 5 of 5 · two independent clauses to find
Click all the words that belong to an independent clause (there are two — click both).
The Four Sentence Types
Every sentence in English is one of these four types — defined by how many independent and dependent clauses it contains.
① Simple
1 independent clause. No dependent clauses.
She laughed. The old man walked slowly down the road.
② Compound
2+ independent clauses joined by a coordinator or semicolon. No dependent clauses.
She laughed, buthe frowned. I was tired; I went to bed early.
③ Complex
1 independent clause + 1+ dependent clauses.
Although it was late,she kept working. He leftbecause he was bored.
④ Compound-Complex
2+ independent clauses + 1+ dependent clauses.
When the alarm rang,she got up, andshe made coffee.
🔗 Coordinators for compound sentences — remember FANBOYS
For · And · Nor · But · Or · Yet · So
These join two independent clauses with a comma before them: "I was hungry, so I made lunch."
🔑 Quick test: Count the independent clauses (IC) and dependent clauses (DC).
1 IC + 0 DC = Simple · 2+ IC + 0 DC = Compound · 1 IC + 1+ DC = Complex · 2+ IC + 1+ DC = Compound-Complex
Exercise 2
Identify the Sentence Type
Read each sentence and choose the correct type.
Question 1 of 5
"The cat sat on the mat."
Question 2 of 5
"She studied hard, but she still failed the exam."
Question 3 of 5
"Although he was nervous, he gave a confident speech."
Question 4 of 5
"Because the traffic was heavy, she missed the train, so she took a taxi."
Question 5 of 5
"The storm passed, and the sun came out."
Exercise 3
Build the Sentence Type
Combine the ideas below to make the sentence type shown. Use the correct connectors and punctuation.
Question 1 of 4
"The film was long."+"It was entertaining."→ make aCompound
Hint: Join with a coordinator (but / and / yet / so) and a comma.
Question 2 of 4
"He forgot his umbrella."+"He got soaked in the rain."→ make aComplex
Hint: Use a subordinating conjunction (because / when / since / so that).
Question 3 of 4
"She was nervous."+"She gave the presentation."+"It went really well."→ make aCompound-Complex
Hint: You need both a subordinating conjunction (although / even though / because) AND a coordinator (and / but / so).
Question 4 of 4
"I will call you."+"I arrive at the hotel."→ make aComplex
Hint: Use a time conjunction (when / as soon as / once / after).
Joining with Conjunctive Adverbs
FANBOYS aren't the only way to join two independent clauses — but the punctuation changes with a different set of connecting words.
Words like however, therefore, moreover, nevertheless, consequently, and otherwise can also connect two independent clauses. But unlike FANBOYS, they need a semicolon before them and a comma after.
Words like however and therefore need a semicolon before them and a comma after them.
Question 1 of 4
It was raining __________ we stayed inside.
Question 2 of 4
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Question 3 of 4
Which of these is a conjunctive adverb (not a coordinator)?
Question 4 of 4
She was exhausted; __________, she kept working.
Choosing the Right Coordinator (and the "Nor" Trick)
FANBOYS words don't all mean the same thing — and one of them, "nor," even flips your word order.
Each coordinator carries its own meaning: but shows a direct contrast, yet shows a surprising or unexpected contrast, so shows a result, and nor adds another negative idea. Because "nor" already means "and not," it needs special word order.
Normal word order
"She does not like coffee."
Subject before verb, as usual.
After "nor"
"She does not like coffee, nor does she like tea."
✓ Helping verb flips before the subject — like a question.
💡 Never add a second "not" after "nor" — "nor" already carries the negative for you.
🔑 Key rule: nor + helping verb + subject + main verb. No extra "not" needed — "nor" already means "and not."
Exercise 5
Choosing the Right Coordinator
But, yet, so and nor each have their own meaning. Remember the "nor" word order.
Question 1 of 4
It was cold, __________ we went for a walk anyway. (a surprising contrast)
Question 2 of 4
I was tired, __________ I went to bed early. (a result)
Question 3 of 4
She doesn't like coffee, nor __________ tea.
Question 4 of 4
Which sentence is correct?
Exercise 6
Mixed Review
A mix of everything — clauses, compound sentences, complex sentences, and compound-complex punctuation.